The Right Thing to Do

The cobblestones shimmered under the lamplight, rainwater streaming in thin rivulets toward the center of the stone bridge that led back to the academy.

Lucius didn’t know what he would say, or even what he could do. Only that he had to go back.

At the highest point of the bridge, he spotted two silhouettes beneath the flickering glow of an old lantern.

One stood still, calm and composed. The other sat perched on the railing.

Tairaku and Meiruna.

Lucius blinked through the rain as he approached.

“I told you he’d come back,” Tairaku said quietly, without turning.

“Tch. Lucky for him,” Meiruna muttered, arms still crossed. “If you’d been wrong, I would’ve ripped him a new one.”

She hopped down and strode toward him, grabbing Lucius by the collar.

“How dare you just leave her like that?!”

Lucius didn’t resist.

His gaze drifted from Tairaku’s gentle smile to Meiruna’s furious glare.

“How… do you even know about that?” he asked quietly.

Meiruna let go and stepped back, pointing a finger at him.

“You think we didn’t notice how weird you’ve been acting? Or how you snuck out last night?”

She hesitated, her tone softening just slightly.

“Tairaku wanted to trust you… but if we’d known you dragged Glizzy into this...”

“...we would’ve stepped in sooner,” Tairaku finished calmly.

Lucius said nothing at first, glancing between them, guilt written all over his face.

“I… think I owe you an explanation.”

Tairaku nodded.

“Then let’s go back to our dorm. I’m not listening to confessions out here.”

“And I’m not interested in excuses!” Meiruna snapped.

She had already turned and was stomping ahead.

Lucius and Tairaku followed her back toward the academy.

Their room was still dim when they entered, pale morning light barely filtering through the curtains.

Lucius stood in silence for a moment, the book hidden beneath his cloak.

Only after the door was locked did he pull it out and place it on the table.

The siblings leaned closer, curiosity written on their faces.

“This is why I came here.”

They examined the book, exchanging glances.

“You came all this way just to steal a spellbook?” Meiruna asked dryly. “What are you, some kind of master thief?”

Lucius exhaled.

“It’s better if I start from the beginning. My real name is Lucius… and the truth is, I’m from another world.”

Then he told them everything.

His old life. Melissa and Dionysos. The trial. The escape. Their arrival in this world. Their mission in Yashar.

And finally, Hecate and the book.

At times, his voice faltered, especially when he spoke of Yashar.

When he finished, the room fell into a heavy silence.

Meiruna rubbed the back of her neck, pointedly looking away.

“If you made all that up just to impress us, you’re officially insane.” She shot him a sideways glance, then added more quietly, “But… if it’s true… you’ve been through a lot.”

Tairaku offered a faint smile, though his eyes remained serious.

“And despite everything, you chose to come back. Not everyone would have.”

Lucius lowered his gaze.

“It didn’t feel like I had a choice.”

“That,” Tairaku said, “is exactly what makes it the right one.”

Meiruna crossed her arms.

“Fine. You had your reasons. And you told us the truth. But if you ever pull something like that again…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, she didn’t have to. Lucius raised his hands in mock surrender.

“I won’t.”

A brief silence followed. Then Meiruna straightened.

“So. What’s our plan, world-hopper?”

Lucius blinked, caught off guard.

“Our plan? Wait, you actually want to help me? After everything?”

Tairaku stepped up beside her, his expression steady.

“Of course. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Something flickered in Lucius’s eyes.

He nodded slowly, a faint smile breaking through.

“Yeah…we are. Alright then. Let’s go get her back!”

And for the first time in a long while, Lucius felt something he had almost forgotten.

He wasn’t alone.

᯽᯽᯽

A few hours later, the refectory was unusually quiet.

Only the occasional clatter of cutlery echoed off the stone walls.

Lucius sat staring at his breakfast, absentmindedly pushing the food around his plate.

Across from him, Meiruna sat with her arms crossed, one foot tapping, her irritation growing by the second.

“Where is he…” she muttered.

Just then, a slender figure approached their table.

Tairaku.

His expression was grave, the usual calm completely gone.

“Well?” Lucius asked immediately, straightening. “Did you find anything?”

Tairaku nodded slowly, but there was nothing reassuring in it.

“It’s as I feared. Her expulsion has already been ordered.” He paused. “But that’s not the worst of it.”

His voice dropped.

“Since the book wasn’t found on her, and the second perpetrator is still at large…” His eyes flicked briefly toward Lucius. “…the charge has been escalated to espionage.”

A beat of silence.

“And in wartime,” he added quietly, “that carries the death penalty.”

Meiruna shot to her feet, her chair crashing to the ground behind her.

“What?! This is Glizzy we’re talking about! She couldn’t spy on anyone if she tried!”

A few heads turned. A young orc at a nearby table eyed her suspiciously.

“Keep your voice down,” Tairaku hissed, pulling her back. “She’s being transferred today. Tiberun’s military is taking over. They’re moving her to the central prison in Castruin.”

He glanced over his shoulder, then lowered his voice further.

“Until then, she’s being held in the North Wing. Basement level. Not an official cell, but locked and guarded.”

Silence settled over the table.

The steady drumming of rain against the tall windows suddenly seemed much louder.

Lucius spoke at last, his voice quiet, almost hollow.

“I’m getting her out. No matter what it takes.”

Tairaku leaned closer, his gaze firm.

“No more solo missions. That’s how you got into this mess in the first place. We do this, together.”

Meiruna nodded sharply.

Lucius drew a slow breath, then gave a small nod.

“…Alright. Sounds like you already have a plan.”

And so, the three of them began to work out how they would free their friend.

Together.